Year 12 is stressful for any Canberra teenager.
Grades suddenly became the least of James Gillman's concerns when he was kicked out of home a term off graduating.
At 17, he was left couch surfing, living in a tent and motels.
"People thought I was pretending [to be homeless]," James says.
"A lot of people assumed I'd been naughty and locked out of home."
Nearly two years later, James has just secured public housing in Queanbeyan, living off a disability pension for autism and complex post-traumatic stress disorder.
He eats a taco for lunch at a community centre in a red Oodie.
When asked, James says he has no plans for the future.
But his dream life? To have a house and a job working on cars.
On the edge, and falling off
At St Benedict's Community Centre in Queanbeyan, the vulnerable gather for food, companionship and practical support.
Coordinator Elaine Lollback says inflation, exorbitant rents and high energy bills is pushing more people to the edge of homelessness - and kicking others right off the cliff.
This includes many people who are working, such as public servants and contractors.
Father Michael Cockayne has worked in Queanbeyan for 40 years.
More types of people are homeless than ever before, he says.
He points out an older lady who he says comes from a wealthy background and has her own home.
She needs help getting her life back together.
"This is not only the very poor [anymore], it could be anybody," he says.
Father Michael recalls a young father with his two children coming in over Christmas.
The subcontractor had to stop working as his wife became ill and was hospitalised away from home.
"I found some steak [for them, and] he almost burst into tears. Strong man, you know? It just broke me up," he said.
Food or rent?
The centre is trying to prevent homelessness by giving people food so they have money for housing.
Macka's rent was recently raised and now makes up half of his pension.
Elaine says he is one more increase away from homelessness.
Macka lives in Queanbeyan. NSW does not have caps on rental increases, unlike the ACT.
He used to work in Canberra before losing his factory job.
He says he saves money by turning off the heating, despite the cold exacerbating health problems.
Macka says he cannot even afford toilet paper anymore, and life is limited without hobbies or social interaction.
Elderly living in cars
There are more people with jobs seeking assistance; and many elderly and young people need urgent help, Elaine says.
She is helping seven people over the age of 75 who are sleeping in cars or couch surfing.
"We've now got more people sleeping rough in cars. We have now got more people who are in the emergency side of things with NSW housing for longer," Elaine says.
She knows of children living in cars and tents with their parents.
Elaine has previously said that Queanbeyan bears the brunt of Canberra's homelessness, with hospitals and services sending people across the border.
About 2407 Canberrans were homeless for at least a month in 2023, according to the St Vincent de Paul Society Canberra/Goulburn.
One in four did not have their accommodation needs in the ACT, chief executive Lucy Hohnen said.
Public housing numbers
The number of public housing properties in the ACT dropped to a decade low in 2023.
As of July, urgent applicants waited more than six months; high needs people more than three years; and standard applicants five years, for housing.
Meanwhile, the waiting period for standard housing in Queanbeyan is less than two years.
The ACT 2024-25 budget promised more than $285 million in funding for housing, including $118 million to boost social housing assistance and homelessness services.
The federal government has promised to deliver 1200 social and affordable houses in the ACT as part of the National Housing Accord, which aims to deliver 1.2 million homes across Australia.
From the dream life to homelessness
An attractive man in his early 50s wearing clean and fashionable clothes fills out paperwork at a small table.
Not too long ago, Ed had that dream life young James wants.
Married for 18 years with children, he has worked manual labour and desk jobs.
He had "a house, two cars, great job".
Divorce 10 years ago started the descent.
"Last year just took a short, sharp, downward turn," Ed says.
A shoulder injury, being kicked out of a rental and he fell right off that edge.
He is living in a motel and waiting to have surgery at Canberra Hospital; Ed has been told not to work a manual job before the operation.
In 2022-23, the average patient waited 49 days for elective surgery in the ACT.
He has not told his children about his predicament, from fear of worrying them.
Good days are spent at the library applying for housing and work.
"Other days you just bury your head under the blanket," Ed says.
- If you have any questions to concerns, please email lanie.tindale@canberratimes.com.au
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